Saadia Azim Awarded Ph.D. for Research on India’s Digital Divide

TNN News  :Saadia Azim, Chief Operating Officer of Bangla Sahayata Kendra (BSK), has been awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Journalism & Mass Communication by Sister Nivedita University for her pioneering research on India’s digital divide. Her thesis, “Digital Divide in India: Examining the Emerging Inequalities of Skills and Purpose in Data Consumption and Communication,” critically analyses the disparities in digital access, literacy, and communication skills, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The prestigious award ceremony was attended by West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, Agriculture Minister Shovan Deb, Chancellor Satyam Roy Chowdhury, and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Dhurbojyoit Chattopadhyay.
Azim’s study highlights the socio-economic barriers that restrict digital participation, emphasizing how inequalities in device access, internet connectivity, and digital literacy coupled with policy gaps disproportionately affect students from marginalized communities. The research also delves into the role of misinformation and content moderation challenges in widening these gaps.
As the leader of BSK, a digital public service delivery system of the Government of West Bengal, which provides over 300 government services and nearly 100 government schemes digitally across West Bengal through a unified platform, Azim advocates for hybrid service models that integrate digital and assisted access to bridge the digital divide. Speaking at the event, she emphasized the urgent need for policy parity and targeted interventions to ensure that “technology serves as an enabler rather than a barrier to inclusion”.
Her Ph.D. research makes a significant contribution to media and communication studies, shedding light on the challenges of navigating an overwhelming flood of easily accessible digital information. Her findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and digital governance experts, emphasizing the need for structured interventions to ensure equitable digital participation.